Taking it up a nock: Archers compete at fair

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Kasey Pazdernik, 17, Mandan, N.D. takes aim before his shot Saturday at the Stutsman County Fair 4-H Archery 3-D Shoot. See page A6 for competition results.

Talk about it

Close to 100 children and teenagers gathered in Jamestown on Saturday for their chance to compete in the annual Stutsman County Fair 4-H Archery 3-D Shoot.

“It’s a family sport and a fun activity, and it’s something they can do literally for a lifetime,” said Royce Carlson, coach for the Stutsman County 4-H team.

Carlson and a group of four shooters competed in the national competition last month. Stutsman County took 12th out of 24th teams that participated in Grand Island, Neb.

“Anybody that doesn’t have faith in the youth of America needs to go to that,” Carlson said of nationals.

Carlson was on-hand Saturday morning to help run teams through the 20-target course, which featured a variety of animal-shaped targets.

Archers were awarded 12, 10, eight or five points per target, depending on where each arrow struck.

Carlson also called Saturday his “vendetta against video games,” to show that children can have fun outdoors with their families.

“They can get outside and enjoy the great outdoors and see there’s more than computers and video games,” he said.

That mentality rang true with a few archers on the line as they fired arrows through Styrofoam turkeys and bears.

“It’s not sitting in front of the TV and we’re working,” said Cody Tokach, 11, Mandan.

Tokach said he is excited for bow hunting next year and claimed he can keep still in a tree stand as he waits for a deer.

Hunting is why he enjoyed Saturday’s invitational tournament.

“It’s just fun to see all the different animals and shoot at them,” he said.

The competition is part of what helps drive Kasey Pazdernik, 17, Mandan.

“It’s always fun to compete,” Pazdernik said.

He also said he likes to get out shoot in places other than his backyard whenever he gets the chance.

“It’s a lifelong sport, it’s fun. It relieves stress if you’re stressed out,” Pandernik said. “There’s always time to do it, you can do it pretty much anywhere and I enjoy hunting, that’s why I do it.”

“It’s an individual sport and the kids learn a lot of discipline with it,” Hattlewick said.

After his trip to nationals, Chris Well, 18, Jamestown, said he has moved beyond being am archery hobbyist.

“It’s not a hobby, it’s more of a lifestyle,” Well said.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, fair